A life-changing transformation

One operation can repair a fistula. But that’s not the end of the story.

Dr Catherine Hamlin has dedicated nearly 60 years of her life to restoring the lives and dignity of close to 55,000 women. She has always believed that treating a fistula patient isn’t just treating a hole in the bladder but rather the whole patient.

Beyond the physical mending of scars and injury, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia provides rehabilitation programs that help recovering fistula sufferers reintegrate into their community. For these women who have been shunned from society, this Hamlin Model of Care is a critical aspect of rebuilding self-belief and empowering women to live independently, with dignity and choices.

Every woman who undergoes fistula surgery at one of the six Hamlin hospitals, also receives counselling, physiotherapy and basic literacy and numeracy lessons. However, some women require a lot more support.

With your help, a woman is not defined or condemned by fistula.

From healing to independence

Opened in 2002, Desta Mender (meaning ‘Joy Village’) is a farm and training facility where longer-term patients are provided with counselling and skills training program that are individually tailored to each woman.

Training can range from farming skills, child care qualifications or business skills training. In some cases, this also includes start up grants to establish their own business, enabling these women to generate an income. It enables them not only to survive but to thrive.

Brave and beautiful wraps

Last year more than 600 patients completed skills training and handicraft education. One of the products made by patients are beautiful chunky-knit wraps, knitted from raw Ethiopian cotton.

You can purchase a patient-made wrap at The Hamlin Shop, and support both the patient who made it and the work of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia!

It’s time to re-write these women’s stories

Below are the incredible stories of three women, Fetenech, Besemu and Beburuyosh who have used their personalised Hamlin care program to successfully find their independence and rewrite their stories.

Fetenech

Customers at Fetenech’s coffee shop are inevitable treated to her beaming smile. The 28-year-old is thriving since she started her business three years ago. She boasts that she is ‘born again’ with a bright future ahead.

It’s an outrageous transformation from when the woman who hid herself away from the world for seven years. A double fistula suffered after after an obstructed labour left here incontinent and as a result humiliated, isolated and cut off from her community.